Sarah it sounds like your midwives were absolute knobs!

Talk about someone going through the mechanical motions of a "job" rather than striving to do their job to the best of their ability!

I guess it's just like any workplace... some people are nice, and some are not-so-nice. Just makes it hard when they're supposed to be looking after your well-being, but neglecting the emotional part of that (if you're like me and look at well-being from a physical, emotional and spiritual perspective).

As far as skin to skin contact goes, I say go in there with a birth plan that you've shared with your OB and midwives (and partner) and if bubs is fine they'll grant that request. If something happens and they forget, or they have to suction some extra stuff out of bubs or something, be flexible and roll with it.

If you get fixated on that one thing and it doesn't happen, it could ruin the whole arrival for you